MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG 2005 W463 Owner's Manual

111 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and the parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
exterior lamp switch.
Automatic headlamp mode
The following lamps switch on and off au-
tomatically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light:

Low beam headlamps


Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position1 only the parking lamps will
switch on and off automatically.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps, and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off automatically.
iWith the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch and the driver’s door
open, a warning sounds if the parking
lamps or low beam headlamps are
switched on.
The message
TURN OFF LIGHTS!
ap-
pears in the multifunction display.
Warning!
G
If the exterior lamp switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others,
activate headlamps by turning exterior
lamp switch to
B
when driving or
when traffic and / or ambient lighting
conditions require you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from position U
to
B
with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching
from
U
to
B
will briefly switch
off the headlamps. Doing so while driv-
ing in low ambient lighting conditions
may result in an accident.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle’s lights at all
times.

112 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on
additionally:

Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving, you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Canada only:
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime run-
ning lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 110).USA only:
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode”
(
page 137).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to
positionCorB, the manual head-
lamp mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (page 110).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all
times.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Locator lighting and night security illu-
mination
The locator lighting and the night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system section”, see (
page 138) and
(
page 139).
Exterior rear view mirror lamps
If the vehicle is centrally unlocked in the
darkness, the lamps in the exterior rear
view mirrors come on.
If a door is opened, the lamp on this side
goes out. If no doors are opened, the
lamps will switch off:


after a maximum of 40 seconds


immediately, when you switch on the
ignition (
page 35)Fog lamps
Front fog lamps

Switch on the low beam headlamps
(page 110).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The front fog lamps switch on.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 110).

Push in the exterior lamp switch.
The front fog lamps switch off.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from position
U
to
B

with the vehicle at a standstill. Switching
from
U
to
B
will briefly switch off
the headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or low beam headlamps on.
Fog lamps should only be used in con-
junction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allow-
able lamp operation.
iFog lamps cannot be switched on with
the exterior lamp switch in
positionU. For switching on the fog
lamps, turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB first.

114 Controls in detailLightingRear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 113).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp switches on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 110).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 110).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.

115 Controls in detail
Lighting
Hazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be
switched on at all times, even with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch.
The hazard warning flasher switches on au-
tomatically when an airbag deploys.
The hazard warning flasher switch is locat-
ed on the center console.
1Hazard warning flasher switchSwitching on hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher
switch1.
All the turn signal lamps are flashing.Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch1
again.
iWith the hazard warning flasher acti-
vated and the combination switch set
for either left or right turn, only the re-
spective turn signals will operate when
the SmartKey is in starter switch
position1or2.
iIf the hazard warning flasher has been
activated automatically, press hazard
warning flasher switch1 once to
switch it off.

116 Controls in detailLightingInterior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Cargo compartment lamps
2Right reading lamp
3Rocker switch for automatic control
system
4Left reading lampAutomatic control
Activating

Move rocker switch3 to center
position.
The interior lighting switches on in
darkness when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
Additionally, entry lamps in the door
trays will come on when you open
a door.
The interior lighting switches off automati-
cally following an adjustable time delay.
For more information, see “Setting interior
lighting delayed shut-off” (
page 140).Deactivating

Press the = symbol on rocker
switch3.
The interior lighting and the entry
lamps remain switched off in darkness,
even when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
iLeaving an interior light switch in the
ON position for extended periods of
time with the engine turned off could
result in a discharged battery.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps switch off automatically after
approximately five minutes.

117 Controls in detail
Lighting
Manual control
Switching lamps on
Press the W symbol on rocker
switch3.
The interior lighting remains on even
when the doors are closed.
Switching lamps off

Move rocker switch3 to center posi-
tion to activate the automatic control.
Rear interior lamps
The rear interior lamps are located above
the rear seat bench on the left and right
side.
1The lamps are switched on
continuously
2The lamps are switched off
3Automatic function
!To prevent the vehicle battery from be-
ing discharged, all interior lamps
switch off automatically after approxi-
mately 30 minutes with the tailgate
open.
If an interior lamp is switched on man-
ually, it does not go out automatically.
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure
the interior lamps are switched off.
The rear interior lamps can be switched
on with the SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or SmartKey removed from
the starter switch for up to 30 minutes.

118 Controls in detailLightingCargo compartment lamps
Switching on and off
1Switch for cargo compartment lamps
Press button ò to switch cargo
compartment lamps2 on/off.2Cargo compartment lampsSwitching on and off with the tailgate
open
If the tailgate should remain open for a
longer period of time, the cargo compart-
ment lamps may be switched off
separately.
1Door lock
2Lock cylinder

119 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching off
Open the tailgate.

Press door lock1 down until it
engages (arrow).Switching on

Press lock cylinder2 to activate the
cargo compartment lamps again.
The cargo compartment lamps will
switch on.
!Do not close the tailgate if the lock is
engaged in down position. The lock
could otherwise be damaged.
When locking the tailgate, it is impor-
tant that the door lock be in the same
original position as shown in the illus-
tration.
To return the door lock1 to its origi-
nal position, press lock cylinder2.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the tail-
gate opening when closing the tailgate. Be
especially careful when small children are
around.
Only drive with the tailgate closed as other-
wise exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle
interior.

120 Controls in detailInstrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 24).
1Reset button
The instrument cluster is activated when
you:


Open a door.


Switch on ignition.


Press reset button1.


Switch on the exterior lamps.
You can change the instrument cluster set-
tings in the Instrument cluster submenu of
the control system (
page 135).
Instrument cluster illumination
Use the reset button to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster.
To brighten illumination
Turn reset button1 in the instrument
cluster clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.To dim illumination

Turn reset button1 in the instrument
cluster counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.
Coolant temperature display
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to
suit ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will
also be adjusted automatically when
you switch on the vehicle’s exterior
lamps.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.